THE clock will be turned back to 1943 in West Devon this weekend, when the 70th anniversary of the arrival in Tavistock of the 29th Infantry Division, US Army, is commemorated.

Organised by WW2 Re-Enactment South West in association with Tavistock Town Council, the event will see the Tavistock's Meadows come alive with numerous WW2 US Army vehicles and WW2 re-enactors and living history displays, including C Coy, 116th Infantry Regiment, the UKs premier 29th Division re-enactment group and even General Eisenhower, who will be inspecting the troops.

Seventy years ago, on May 27, 1943, American soldiers of the 29th Infantry Division of the US Army arrived in Devon and Cornwall to begin training for the invasion of mainland Europe. Part of V Corps of the US 1st Army under the command of Lt General Omar Bradley, the 29th, a National Guard Division, were earmarked for the assault on Omaha Beach.

Divisional headquarters were established at Abbotsfield Hall in Tavistock — now a nursing home — and the division began intensive training for the impending invasion.

During the 12 month period that the division were in Tavistock, their presence was felt everywhere. 

They played baseball in the Meadows, and there was a social club for them in West Street. Local pubs did a roaring trade despite the GI's initial dislike of 'the warm English Beer' and the old White Hart in Brook Street was on occasions drunk almost dry.

The GI's attracted the local girls too, and as a result of these liaisons, many of which began at the regular dances held in the town hall, about 40 local girls later became GI brides.

Early 1944 witnessed a number of high ranking visits to Tavistock.

In February the Supreme Allied Commander Dwight D Eisenhower inspected 'H' Company of the 29th Division, followed in March by the Commander of 1st Army Lt General Omar Bradley, who came to address the division's officers.

Finally, in April, there was a meeting between Eisenhower and the Overall Land Commander, Lt General Sir Bernard Montgomery at  Abbotsfield Hall.

On May 20, 1944, the 29th Infantry Division left Tavistock for its embarkation points for the invasion of Normandy. Hundreds of soldiers, four abreast, marched silently out of Tavistock for the last time.

The 29th division landed on Omaha Beach on June 6, 1944, the Division's 116th Infantry Regiment, making up one of the two initial assault forces.

Little went as planned. Navigational difficulties caused the majority of the landing craft to miss their targets and they encountered stiff opposition from well-entrenched and prepared German forces. In the early stages of the landing, the Americans were pinned down on the beach by heavy German mortar and machine gun fire, causing horrific casualties, more than 3,000, in a short time.

Finally after intense and bloody fighting, the beachhead was secured and in the second wave the 29th Infantry Division's 115th Infantry Regiment landed, followed a few days later by the 175th Infantry Regiment and the remainder of the division.

Once inland the entire division was involved in the bitter hedgerow fighting among the Normandy Bocage.

It helped capture St Lo in a fierce battle, moved on to take Brest in the Brittany Peninsula, and by the end of the war had fought their way across Western Europe and into Germany.

The 29th Division was in combat almost continuously for the eleven months between D-Day and VE-Day, and during this period suffered 20,111 battle casualties, including 3,720 killed.

Many of the young men who had been based in Tavistock in the 12 months before D-Day would never return home.

The commemorative weekend will take place on Saturday and Sunday, May 25 and 25, between 10am and 4.30pm. The event will play host to the real ale and cider festival by the Lion's Club, numerous military and vintage traders and stalls, a vintage funfair and hot and cold food vendors. Admission to the event on both days is free.

On the Saturday night, from 6pm to 11pm, a 1940s swing dance will take place in the main marquee in the Meadows, featuring the 1940s vocal group 'The Three Belles', 1940s DJ 12 O'Clock High and 1940s singer and trumpeter Pte Ricky Hunter.

The dance itself is a ticket only event. Advanced tickets at £6 per person can be obtained from Bookstop in Tavistock or tickets can be bought on the night for £8 per person.

On Sunday there will be a parade to the town's war memorial, where a short service will take place and a permanent memorial to the 29th division will be unveiled and dedicated.

Sunday will also see the 'Dig for Victory' garden festival in the town hall.

For more information call Liz Lane on 07901 144482.